ASSESSMENT NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, that the local Board of Appeal and Equalization of the Township of Collinwood, of Meeker County, Minnesota, will meet at the Township Hall, 21904 746th Avenue at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, the 21st day of April, 2009 for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the assessments of said township for the year 2009. All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment or who wish to complain that the property of another is assessed too low, are hereby notified to appear at said meeting, and show cause of having such assessment corrected.
No complaint that another person is assessed too low will be acted upon until the person assessed, or his agent, shall have been notified of such complaint.
If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor’s office to discuss your concerns. If you are still not satisfied with the valuation or classification after conferring with your assessor, you may appear before the local board of appeal and equalization. The board shall review the valuation, classification, or both if necessary, and shall correct it as needed. Generally, an appearance before your local board of appeal and equalization is required by law before an appeal can be taken to your county board of appeal and equalization.
Given under my hand this 7th day of April, 2009.
Larry Ostlund,
Clerk of the Township of Collinwood
Published in the Enterprise Dispatch April 13, 2009.

UNOFFICIAL SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
I.S.D. #466, BOARD OF EDUCATION
7:00 PM REGULAR BOARD MEETING, FEBRUARY 26, 2009 DASSEL-COKATO BOARD ROOM
In partnership with our communities, Dassel-Cokato Public Schools will provide all learners opportunities designed to maximize their potential and promote lifelong learning.
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District No. 466 (Dassel-Cokato, Minnesota) was duly held in the Dassel-Cokato Board Room, Cokato, Minnesota, on Thursday, February 26, 2009.
Board Chairman Kevin Dahlman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The following members were present: Dahlman, Linder, Tormanen, Bender, Bjork, and McConkey. The following were absent: none. Members of the administration and public were also present.
The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance.
Motion by Tormanen, seconded by Linder, accepting the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Bjork, seconded by Tormanen approving payment of bills as presented including payroll, hand payables and contingency totaling $1,709,043.88. Motion carried unanimously. (A complete list of bills is available from the District Office for review.)
Communications/Open Forum: None
Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) Report: Board Member Linder reported on the 2-10-09 CAC meeting. during which the Social Studies Scope and Sequence was presented.
Technology Report: None
MAWSECO Report: Board Chair Dahlman reported on the 2-24-0-9 MAWSECO which included: staffing, information on hiring an additional coordinator, December 1 child count, and budget.
Community Education Report: Vice Chair Tormanen reported on the 2-5-09 Community Education Advisory Council Meeting which included: PAC Activities, EC Activities, Pact 4 LCTS Grant, Fall, Winter and Spring program reports, and discussion about promoting community education.
Business Manager’s Report: Superintendent Powers reported expenditures are in line with budget through the end of the eights month of the fiscal year. He also reported on the status of various projects.
Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Powers reported on: Minnesota School Safety Conference and the sunset of various grants impacting the district.
Student Representative’s Report: None
Other Reports: Board Member Bender reported on DC’s invitation to the American High School Theatre Festival in Scotland. Vice Chair Tormanen reported on the 2-20-09 SEE General Membership Meeting. Superintendent Powers reported that the teachers group voted to stop pursuing Q-Comp.
Motion by Tormanen, seconded by McConkey approving all consent items, which included approval of the minutes from the January 22, 2009 Regular Board Meeting and the February 9, 2009 Special Board Meeting. Wire transfers made on January 22nd for $125,000, January 30th for $500,000, February 10th for $430,000 and February 13th for $730,000. Personnel Items: Request approval of an Unpaid Medical Leave for Kristy Breault from January 5, 2009 to March 4, 2009 approximately, Resignation of Kari Anderson as Cokato Elementary LTS Health Assistant effective 1/28/2009, Employment of Mary Vollen as Cokato Elementary LTS Health Assistant effective 1/29/2009, Employment of June Eckstrom as H/MS evening shift Custodian effective 3/9/2009, Resignation of Irene Schwartz as Early Childhood Programs Coordinator effective 3/6/09, Request for approval of 12 weeks FMLA Leave for Arlyce Terning from February 23, 2009 to June 3, 2009 due to spouse’s illness. Acceptance of donations; An alto saxophone from Phil and Suzanne Haataja for the instrumental music programs. Central MN Jobs & Training donated transportation costs on 2 field trips at the High School approximate cost: $445. $800 from Target to be applied to Middle School Target Field Trip Grant Program. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Bjork, seconded by Linder approving changes to Policy #709 Student Transportation Safety, which remove the restriction against eating and drinking on the bus. Bus drivers will still be able to establish rules on their busses that regulate eating. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Bender, seconded by Tormanen approving the 2009-10 School Calendar. If the legislature lifts the ban on a pre-Labor Day start the board will adopt a different calendar. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Bjork, seconded by Linder adopting the Federal Advocacy Resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
FEDERAL ADVOCACY RESOLUTON
WHEREAS, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, regardless of the intent of its authors, is deeply flawed and has created many negative consequences and attitudes in the minds of parents, citizens and educators while drawing precious funding away from direct instruction of our neediest students; and
WHEREAS, the Independent School District No. 466 Dassel-Cokato inherently recognizes an obligation to continuously improve student outcomes for all students; and
WHEREAS, the NCLB Act is currently a collection of 93 disjointed programs that would better serve children if organized to provide a seamless array of services and support for children in need; and
WHEREAS, attempts to fix existing flaws will inevitably lead to more bureaucratic complexity rather than understandable simplicity; and
WHEREAS, the level of funding for public schools has a direct impact on the quality of learning opportunities for all children, and the underfunded mandates of the federal government create additional stress on this funding system; and
WHEREAS, standards and accountability systems are best assigned as the constitutional responsibility of States under broad federal expectations of quality rather than any attempt to create a ‘one-size-fits-all’ federal standard; therefore be it now
RESOLVED that Independent School District No. 466 Dassel-Cokato hereby urges the U.S. Congress to fundamentally reframe the structure of the Federal investment in K-12 education with a focus on serving low income and disadvantaged children; and be it further
RESOLVED that we urge the return of responsibility for student and school accountability to the individual States; and be it further
RESOLVED that we urge the Minnesota Legislature and Governor to inform the Federal Government of Minnesota’s intent to consider a withdrawal from participation in NCLB if a reframing of the Statute is not completed by October, 2010, and be it further
RESOLVED that the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Department of Education develop a more positive approach to state efforts to raise student achievement for both students and for schools.
Adopted on February 26, 2009 Kevin Dahlman, School Board Chair
Superintendent Powers updated the board on the 2009-10 State and Federal Funding outlook for 2009-10. The only state proposal is from the governor and has been discussed at a previous meeting. Federal stimulus money will come to the state and may be used to backfill cuts to K-12 and post-secondary. Federal special education money will still be subject to maintenance of effort laws although 50% will be exempt the first year. Currently it will all be subject to the supplement instead of supplant laws. Because of these restriction it may not be very useful to districts. There are many decisions yet to be made regarding the federal stimulus funds.
Upcoming Meetings/Events: March 9, 2009  7:00 PM Special Board
March 31, 2009 - 7:00 PM Regular Board Meeting
April 13, 2009 - 7:00 PM Special Board Meeting April 23, 2009 - 7:00 PM Regular Board Meeting May 11, 2009 - 7:00 PM Special Board Meeting May 28, 2009 - 7:00 PM Regular Board Meeting
June 7, 2009  2:00 PM Graduation June 8, 2009 - 7:00 PM Special Board Meeting June 25, 2009 - 7:00 PM Regular Board Meeting
Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM.
Kevin Bjork, Clerk
This document is available in the following formats upon request: Braille, Large Print, Audio Cassette Tape, and Computer Disk. Please call (320-286-4100) for more information or to request a copy.
Published in the Enterprise Dispatch April 13, 2009.

UNOFFICIAL SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
I.S.D. #466, BOARD OF EDUCATION
7:00 PM SPECIAL BOARD MEETING, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009 DASSEL-COKATO BOARD ROOM
In partnership with our communities, Dassel-Cokato Public Schools will provide all learners opportunities designed to maximize their potential and promote lifelong learning.
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a special meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District No. 466 (Dassel-Cokato, Minnesota) was duly held in the Dassel-Cokato Board Room of the Dassel-Cokato Schools, Cokato, Minnesota, on Monday, March 9, 2009.
Board Chairman Kevin Dahlman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The following members were present: Dahlman, Bjork, Bender, McConkey, Linder and Tormanen. The following were absent: none. Members of the community and administration were also present.
The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance.
Motion by Bender, seconded by Tormanen, accepting the agenda as amended. Student Representatives report was added as agenda item 8.5. Motion carried unanimously.
The FFA Parliamentary Procedure team was introduced by FFA Advisor Glessing and then they performed for the board and audience.
NHS Adivsory Jon Ring and members Tahler Dobmeier and Karl Koivisto presented a slide show of the NHS trip to Chicago over President’s Day weekend.
Curriculum Director Force and Agriculture Teacher Glessing presented information on the first year adoption of the Agriculture curriculum. Board members asked questions. Overall, the adoption appears to have been very positive.
Curriculum Director Force and Art teacher Welles presented information on the first year adoption of the K-12 curriculum. Board members asked questions about various aspects of their presentation. Overall, the adoption appears to have been very positive.
Student Board Representative reported on: Drivers Education Meeting, College Fair in Willmar, Spring eligibility meeting, Cow Pie Bingo, National FFA Week, FFA Community Appreciation Luncheon, FFA Scavenger Hunt, Speech Meets, State Wrestling, Swimming, and Diving, Winter sports wrap-up, Drumline, Choral Competition, One Act Play, and Jazz Band.
Superintendent Powers updated the board on the progress of the facilities committee and provided the demographers report to the board members who had not already received one.
Being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM
Kevin Bjork, Clerk
This document is available in the following formats upon request: Braille, Large Print, Audio Cassette Tape, and Computer Disk. Please call (320-286-4100) for more information or to request a copy.
Published in the Enterprise Dispatch April 13, 2009.

DUST COATING NOTICE
The Kingston Township board is offering dust coating to rural township residents located on township roads. Each rural residence would be provided 300’ x 18’ application rate for township road. The cost to property owners will be 50%. Property owners may elect to have additional dust coating at full cost. If you are interested in this service contact Harley Hendrickson 398-8502 or Gail Schiefelbein 398-8400 ASAP. All information and payment must be received by May 5. Application will not be provided without payment in full.
Kingston Township board
Gail Schiefelbein / clerk
Published in the Enterprise Dispatch April 13 and 20, 2009.